In Worcester, wheelchair flips inside van, elderly man dies

WORCESTER — An elderly man whose wheelchair flipped over in a transport van Monday afternoon on Orient Street later died.

The victim has been identified as Stuart J. Merchant, 85, of Millbury. He was in a van from a nearby day health care program.

According to police, around 3:45 p.m., the 70-year-old driver of the van, who police also did not identify, called police to report an elderly man in a wheelchair inside the van flipped backwards. The driver told police the man was unresponsive.

The driver told police he picked up three elderly passengers and drove off. A short time later, he noticed the victim's wheelchair had flipped over.

Police went to the area of 28 Orient St., where the van had stopped, and emergency medical services personnel and firefighters arrived and started medical treatment on the victim. He was unconscious and was taken to a local hospital. Investigators were told early Tuesday morning that the man died. The cause of death has not been determined, pending completion of a post-mortem examination, police said.

Police said the Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating, and said investigators will inspect the van and review procedures regarding how the wheelchair was secured for transport.